Daily Timetable
5am - Wake up (to birdsong and singing alarm clock)
5:30am - Morning yoga class (postures, breathing, meditation)
7am - Breakfast
7:45am - Chanting
8am - Group karma yoga (yoga of action)
9am - Guests gather to review activities for the day, discuss and set theme for contemplation
9:30am - Karma Yoga / activity / free time
12:30pm - Lunch
2pm - Karma Yoga / activity / free time
2.30pm - Satyananda Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation) (Sundays 12pm)
3pm - Afternoon tea
3:30pm - Karma Yoga / activity / free time
5.15pm - Afternoon yoga class (Friday, Sunday and Monday) Saturday - Mahamrityunjaya mantra at 5:30pm
6pm - Dinner
7:15pm - Evening program - kirtan (mantras to music), meditation, satsang (inspirational talk), library, creative activity, inspirational stories or film (Wednesdays - Yoga Class 7pm)
8:15pm until 7:30am - mauna (silence)
During structured retreats additional sessions are held morning and afternoon.
Yoga Class
This is a general yoga class which includes asana (postures), pranayama (breathing practices) and meditation &/or relaxation. The aim is to make the class a suitable level for the students present, however often the level of experience of those present varies a lot, so please make sure you are responsible for your own practice and don’t do anything which does not feel appropriate to your own needs. Even absolute beginners are more than welcome to attend. You are very welcome to vary the practices to suit you or to sit out a practice. If you have special health needs which you feel you may not know how to manage yourself during class, please arrive a little early for the class and let the teacher know.
Chanting
This is a short session of chanting to start the day in a harmonious way; it is open to all residents and guests. The chants are usually Sanskrit mantras which have a positive effect at a vibratory level both personally and within the atmosphere.
Karma Yoga
The ashram is primarily run by the voluntary efforts of those living in and visiting the centre, who spend most of the day performing a practice known as karma yoga. Karma yoga is the yoga of meditative action. It involves being mindfully engaged in all activities of the day without being motivated by ones own personal needs. Karma yoga is the most powerful yogic practice for seeing ones strengths and limitations, reactions and motivations.
All visitors are encouraged to participate in the 8am morning Karma Yoga session to experience this aspect of the yogic lifestyle at Mangrove. The morning Karma Yoga session includes participating in activities such as housekeeping, gardening and kitchen, according to one’s capacity. You are also encouraged to join in one of the meal cleanups each day, to do so go to the kitchen half an hour after meal time and ask for the cleanup supervisor. For those who wish to join in further karma yoga activities during the day, ask about the options during the 9am Visitors Get Together.
Visitors Get Together
Each morning at 9am there is a facilitated get together for guests who are not involved in a structured retreat. This is a chance to ask any questions you have about yoga, the ashram, the daily routine etc and to find out about that day’s activities. There is usually also a theme set on a daily or weekly basis and some discussion around the experience or application of the theme.
Other Activities
Most days there is usually an activity which visitors are welcome to join in. These activities include bushwalking, kayaking, creative project, sweet making etc. More information is available each day on the noticeboard or through the 9am Visitors Get Together. Once a week there is a havan (fire ceremony) held at one of the nearby ashram properties.
Yoga Nidra
A meditative relaxation practice performed in a lying position. A favourite practice of many guests and residents!
Evening Program
There is a variety of programs on over the course of the week. Friday and Saturday nights are kirtan – chanting of mantras to music, an uplifting and expressive practice. Other programs include: meditation, Story Telling, Mantra chanting and Spiritual Films.
Mauna
The spiritual discipline of mauna (silence) is practiced daily within the ashram grounds from 8.15pm until the 7.30 am the following morning. Mauna provides the opportunity for self reflection and inner observation. Each Wednesday silence is also practiced during morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
As a courtesy to others please respect this period of silence.
